The Merchants’ Town was picturesque, sure, but we expected a slightly wider selection than just fruit, herbs, and spices. The Robot bombarded us with information about the importance of specific flavors and scents. We didn’t understand their purpose until later, at the Elixir Mixing Machine.

On the way from the laboratory to the Machine in the square, the Robot explained the function of the Elixirs to us. It wasn’t merely fertilizer for the Thing-plant seeds, as we had initially assumed. Scents and flavors directly influence the fundamental characteristics of the things that are meant to sprout from the seed.

For example, a house-growing seed coated in apple flavor and the scent of linden will create a nice, cozy family home. On the other hand, a house seed with a bamboo flavor would result in a high-rise building.

The purest form of Matter, guaranteeing the best germination results for Thing-plant seeds, was contained in the water of forest springs. That is why we set out on a short voyage to the Forest City.